Free performances at 6 regional venues
The inaugural summer season of the newly-formed Piedmont Shakespeare Company will feature a live professional production of “Hamlet” in summer 2025. “Hamlet” will be cast with faculty, students and alumni from Elon University and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA).
“For all theater artists, ‘Hamlet’ looms. It is the play that most reminds practitioners of the power and potential of the theater itself. And thus, it is the obvious first play for our new venture,” said Carl Forsman, co-artistic director of the Piedmont Shakespeare Company and professor at the School of Drama at UNCSA. “Of course, there is a play within ‘Hamlet’ that seeks to prove how powerful the theater can be; when Hamlet asks the players to do a play about a King being murdered, he watches Claudius to see if his reaction betrays his guilt!
“Likewise, we all go to ‘Hamlet’ and observe our own conscience: Have we lived in service of those who ask for help, have we allowed our morality to aid or hinder our devotion, have we loved truly and without reservation? It can feel like there is no part of the human experience the play doesn’t touch on: family, revenge, romance, ambition, power, grief,” Forsman added. “If you aren’t sure what theater is for, I think ‘Hamlet’ can remind us all. I cannot wait to share this masterpiece of theatrical invention and reflection this summer.”
All performances of “Hamlet” will include free admission and will take place at several outdoor venues in the Piedmont Triad. Venues for summer 2025 include the Snow Camp Outdoor Theatre presented by Studio 1, south of Burlington; Arts | Theater 202 in Lexington; the Oak Ridge Town Park Amphitheater; the Van Dyke Performance Space at the Greensboro Cultural Center; the King Central Park Amphitheater in Stokes County; and the historic May Dell on the campus of Salem Academy and College in Winston-Salem.
“Our goal is to perform in spaces where audiences feel at home. We are thrilled by the opportunity to perform in these venues where so many people have fond memories of seeing shows over the years,” said David McGraw, executive director of the Piedmont Shakespeare Company and associate professor of arts administration at Elon University. “Bring your family and a picnic dinner to see theatre under the stars!”
“The theatre should belong to everyone, and we believe that high-quality, transformational experiences can happen when we gather together in community to hear stories about our shared humanity,” said Kim Shively, co-artistic director of the Piedmont Shakespeare Company and associate professor of drama at Elon University. “We are committed to bringing communities together and will host specific events before our performances.”
“We are always proud when Elon faculty put their expertise to use in the community. In their co-founding of the Piedmont Shakespeare Company with colleagues at UNCSA, Kim Shively and David McGraw will create rich opportunities for audiences and students alike,” said Hilton Kelly, dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, at Elon University. “These summer theater experiences provide invaluable hands-on learning spaces for students. As they perform and intern alongside seasoned professionals, students also will be mentored in nonprofit work and witness the many ways the performing arts impact individuals, our society, and the world.”
“Any time a new arts venture launches in North Carolina is a great day,” said UNCSA Chancellor Brian Cole. “The mission of bringing free Shakespeare to audiences across the Piedmont Triad resonates deeply with our commitment at UNCSA to making the arts accessible to all. It’s equally exciting that this project will create meaningful opportunities for our students, alumni, and faculty to shine, both on stage and behind the scenes. We’re incredibly proud that this initiative was conceived in part by our own faculty member, Carl Forsman, and also appreciate the fruitful collaboration with our colleagues at Elon. We eagerly anticipate the extraordinary performances this new company will bring to life.”
Support for the inaugural season of Piedmont Shakespeare Company was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts.
The Piedmont Shakespeare Company was founded in 2024 by a group of veteran theater professionals and faculty members at UNCSA and Elon University. It is a 501(c)3 nonprofit and will provide performances at no cost to audiences in an effort to make Shakespeare accessible to all. Although admission to performances is free, the Piedmont Shakespeare Company will ask for contributions from audiences. In addition, the Company is actively seeking sponsors for its inaugural season. The Piedmont Shakespeare Company will share performance dates and additional details about its summer 2025 season in the coming weeks.
